26: Penguin Expert, TED speaker, and Author of The Great Penguin Rescue Dr. Dyan DeNapoli Discusses Going back to School at 30, Pollution, and Penguin Conservation 

May 1, 2018

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Penguin expert, TED speaker, and author of the award-winning book, The Great Penguin Rescue. She lectures internationally about penguins, and is a sought-out expert on radio and TV, including appearances on BBC and CNN. A participant on the inaugural Homeward Bound expedition, she returns to Antarctica next year as a lecturer for Lindblad/National Geographic. A four-times TEDx speaker, Dyan’s inspiring TED talk about saving 40,000 penguins from an oil spill can be viewed on TED.com. She is on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn as The Penguin Lady.

Hyperlinked Timestamped Show Notes

  1. [ 02:00 ] Why did she decide to give a care about animals, penguins, and nature.
  2. [ 04: 48 ] *What made her decide to go back to school at 30 to live her dreams
  3. [ 06:45 ] *How she managed fears of being behind schedule compared to her peers, and how she has grown to be a Ted talk, international speaker, and amazing author with the specific thing she told herself that made her take the leap.
  4. [ 9:27 ] Henry Ford Quote on those who believe they can and cannot do something are both correct.
  5. [ 9:45 ] She answers whether it was worth it going back to get her degree.
  6. [ 10:48 ] Plastics pollution and it’s affects on penguins and other aquatic animals, and other huge issues facing penguins today.
  7. [ 13:40 ] *How she is inspired by younger generations drive to change the world, and how young people still feel they can make a difference.
  8. [ 16:25 ] How there are some really good things from having social media and how it can help boost change.
  9. [ 18:25 ] *How you can gain the knowledge and identify ways to get involved with conservation.
  10. [ 21:00 ] *Specific places you should check out if you want to specifically help out penguins.
  11. [ 22:10 ] *What she is currently doing that excites her,  a sample of her past work, the creation of her education company., and her first international talk with Nat Geo.
  12. [ 24:15 ] International talks vs local talks and it’s benefit in networking.
  13. [ 25:40 ] *Other great organizations that help out penguins and conservation.
  14. [ 27:30 ] *Where are the beautiful places that she loves and why she loves them.
  15. [ 30:15 ] *The things she tells people at a hypothetical cocktail party. Basically, Penguin Facts!
  16. [ 32:40 ] Hidden old journal of penguin sex/aggression and her thoughts on those topics.
  17. [ 35:43 ] *Hopeful things that you will not hear in the news because it is not gloom and doom.
  18. [ 36:57 ] Thoughts on donating to charities to help out penguins and how great they all are.
  19. [ 38:50 ] Great books and resources to learn more about conversation  and penguins.
  20. [ 40:35 ] How plastic adds up and people doing great work to reduce their plastic waste.
  21. [ 42:15 ] *How to tell if conservation if is something you are passionate about it. Quick experiment she advises you try out.
  22. [ 46:45 ]  What are the next big things she is working on.
  23. [ 48:45 ] Listen to me pitching a special event where people have to dress up as penguins to listen to her speak and how that kind of happened one time.
  24. [ 49:57 ] Great ways to follow along with her on her journey and final thoughts on things we can do to help.

Links from the Episode:

Penguin Conservation Groups:
SANCCOB (seabird rescue center in Cape Town that we worked with during the Treasure oil spill rescue): https://sanccob.co.za/
YEPT ( Yellow-Eyed Penguin Trust: https://www.yellow-eyedpenguin.org.nz/
(A full list of penguin rescue, research, and conservation groups is in Appendix II of my book.)
Book links:
And I meant to mention these two books that your guests might find enjoyable and helpful. The first is by Lewis Pugh, who is an amazing advocate for the oceans. He swims in the planet’s coldest waters to raise awareness about global warming. This is a very motivating and inspiring read!
And this one is about how to speak more effectively to get your message out there and to move people to action (very useful for non-profits in particular).
TED talks:
Dee Boersma – Pay Attention to Penguins: https://www.ted.com/talks/dee_boersma_pay_attention_to_penguins
My TED talk – The Great Penguin Rescue: https://www.ted.com/talks/dyan_denapoli_the_great_penguin_rescue
My TEDxSpence Youth talk – Dare to Believe in Your Dreams: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r2FuI3UzIs0&t=6s
Lewis Pugh – How I Swam The North Pole: https://www.ted.com/talks/lewis_pugh_swims_the_north_pole
Lewis Pugh – My Mind-shifting Everest Swim: https://www.ted.com/talks/lewis_pugh_s_mind_shifting_mt_everest_swim

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